Chapter Summaries

Anko, Uzuki Yugao, Hana Inuzuka, and their allies fought Zabuza, Yuki Haku, and Raiga Kurosuki. Anko countered Raiga with Wind Release, but he began gathering a powerful lightning attack.

• Anko raised an enormous earthen wall to carry her allies above Zabuza's water torrent.
• Hana Inuzuka and her Ninja Dogs attacked Yuki Haku, who escaped with a water clone and drove them back with water needles.
• Uzuki Yugao and her Shadow Clones attacked Yuki Haku, but he blocked them with Ice Release.
• Raiga Kurosuki charged at Anko, who struck him with fireballs, shuriken, and snakes before he cut through her attacks and pursued her.
• Anko used Wind Release: Wind Cutter to slice through Raiga's lightning and force him back.
• Raiga thrust his lightning blades into the air and began gathering electricity with Lightning Release: Lightning Fang.

Kurenai Yuhi used Phantom Body Flicker Technique and Earth Release to expose Zabuza’s water clone and impale him with an earth spear. As Yuki Haku rushed to reach the wounded Zabuza, Hana Inuzuka and Kuromaru attacked, and Haku raised an Ice Mirror beside him.

• Anko countered Raiga Kurosuki’s lightning with Wind Release while admiring Kiba and wanting to take the swords for herself.
• Zabuza attacked Kurenai Yuhi, but her Phantom Body Flicker Technique let her evade his blade and strike at him.
• Zabuza’s apparent death proved to be a water clone, so Kurenai used Earth Release: Earth Flow Spears to impale the real Zabuza through the abdomen.
• Yuki Haku tried to rush to Zabuza, but Hana Inuzuka combined with Kuromaru and charged at him.
• Yuki Haku created an Ice Mirror beside Zabuza as Hana and Kuromaru attacked.

Kurenai Yuhi’s team killed Zabuza and Yuki Haku, then watched Anko fight Raiga Kurosuki. Raiga unleashed Lightning Burial: Banquet of Lightning, and Kurenai began forming hand seals as the attack threatened the group.

• Yuki Haku rescued the wounded Zabuza and attacked Hana Inuzuka and Uzuki Yugao, but Kurenai Yuhi’s genjutsu revealed that the apparent rescue and counterattack were illusions.
• Kurenai Yuhi stabbed Yuki Haku, who died after seeing Zabuza still pinned and lifeless.
• Kurenai Yuhi stopped Hana Inuzuka and Uzuki Yugao from helping Anko, saying Anko did not like others interfering in her fights.
• Raiga Kurosuki saw that Zabuza and Yuki Haku had been killed, then attacked Anko and the others with Lightning Burial: Banquet of Lightning.
• Kurenai Yuhi formed hand seals as Raiga’s lightning bolts approached the group.

Anko used her enhanced Dark Release to absorb Raiga Kurosuki’s lightning attacks and turn them back on him. After overpowering his Lightning Armor, she pressed her attack while Kurenai assured the others that Anko had not yet shown her full strength.

• Kurenai Yuhi stopped the lightning aimed at her group with Wind Release, while Uzuki Yugao and Hana Inuzuka worried that Anko faced the main attack.
• Anko absorbed Raiga Kurosuki’s lightning with Dark Release: Wind Hole and blasted it back at him.
• Raiga protected himself with Lightning Armor, but Anko rushed forward and used Dark Release to drain the armor’s lightning into Chakra.
• Kurenai explained that Rikuto had strengthened Anko’s Dark Release and helped her master her Cursed Seal transformation.

Anko used her Cursed Seal Transformation and Dark Release to defeat Raiga Kurosaki, then learned that keeping his stolen Kiba blades could cause trouble with Kirigakure. She planned to ask the Third Hokage for permission and turn to Rikuto if he refused.

• Anko transformed with the Cursed Seal, blocked Raiga Kurosaki's lightning blade, and blasted him with Dark Release, killing him.
• Kurenai Yuhi explained to Uzuki Yugao and Hana Inuzuka that Rikuto had helped Anko control the transformation and that it granted her enhanced abilities at the risk of going berserk.
• Anko celebrated her victory and handled the Kiba blades while reflecting on her recovered memories and her wish to confront Orochimaru.
• Kurenai Yuhi warned Anko that the Third Hokage might not let her keep Kiba because the treasured blades belonged to Kirigakure.
• Anko said she would ask the Third Hokage and seek Rikuto's help if he refused.

Konoha’s leaders awarded Anko the Kiba Blades and promoted her to Jonin after she helped defeat two S-rank missing-nin, while learning more about the abilities Rikuto had given her and Kurenai. Half a month later, Rikuto and Karin were in the Land of Hot Water for its summer festival, where Karin headed out to enjoy the festivities.

• Kurenai reported that her squad had defeated Raiga Kurosuki and Zabuza and returned safely.
• Anko told the Third Hokage that Rikuto had perfected her Cursed Seal Transformation into an alternative Sage Mode.
• The Third Hokage entrusted the Kiba Blades to Anko and promoted her to Jonin.
• Uzuki Yugao reported Kurenai’s long-range vision and Anko’s Dark Release to the Third Hokage, who credited Rikuto with their extraordinary abilities.
• Half a month after Rikuto and Karin reunited with Tsunade and Shizune in the Land of Hot Water, Karin went out to enjoy the summer festival.

Rikuto, Tsunade, Shizune, and Karin enjoyed the festival in Hot Water Town, where Tsunade sensed powerful Chakra signatures and Rikuto identified one as Utakata, Kirigakure's Six-Tails Jinchuriki. Rikuto then spotted Kirigakure's Tactical Assassination Squad hidden among the festival crowd.

• Karin urged Tsunade, Shizune, Rikuto, and the others to join the festival, and they went out in their festive outfits.
• Tsunade sensed several strong Chakra signatures in Hot Water Town, including one with an ominous aura.
• Tsunade guessed that the strongest Chakra belonged to a Jinchūriki, and Rikuto recognized the masked figure as Utakata from the bounty handbook.
• Rikuto used his Red Eye to scan the town and identified the hidden ninja as Kirigakure's Tactical Assassination Squad.

Mei Terumi and Ao spotted Tsunade and the Six-Tails Jinchuriki, Utakata, in Hot Water Town. Mei dismissed Ao’s suspicion that Tsunade was Konoha’s Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and ordered him to focus on capturing Utakata, leaving their confrontation for later.

• Rikuto used his Red Eye to spot Mei Terumi and Ao in the festival crowd while traveling with Tsunade.
• Ao sensed Tsunade’s immense Chakra but failed to detect Rikuto, who concealed his presence.
• Ao told Mei that Utakata and Tsunade were in town, and wondered if Tsunade was Konoha’s new Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Mei rejected Ao’s guess and warned that Kirigakure could not afford to lose the Six-Tails after losing the Three-Tails.
• Mei ordered Ao to keep watching Utakata and capture him when he left town.

Ao, Mei Terumi, and Kirigakure’s Anbu cornered Utakata in a forest and tried to capture him, but the Six-Tails Jinchuriki fought back and refused to surrender. After their Water Dragon Bullet attacks overwhelmed him, Utakata rose injured and vowed they would take him back only as a corpse.

• After the fireworks festival, Rikuto, Tsunade, Karin, and Shizune left the inn to follow the powerful Chakra signatures outside Hot Water Town.
• Ao and Mei Terumi confronted Utakata in the forest and demanded that he return to Kirigakure.
• A Kirigakure Anbu used the Rain Cutter Technique to destroy Utakata’s explosive bubbles.
• Utakata revealed a slime-covered tail and used it to strike at an Anbu, then faced the group’s Water Dragon Bullet attacks.
• A water dragon hit Utakata and sent him flying, but he stood back up and refused to surrender to Ao.

Utakata transformed into the Six-Tails' partial Tailed Beast form and attacked Mei Terumi and the Kirigakure Anbu with overwhelming speed and corrosive chakra. Mei Terumi dodged his assaults and countered with Lava Release, then reappeared behind him to continue her attack.

• Utakata transformed and killed a Kirigakure Anbu before Mei Terumi blocked his charge with a Water Formation Wall.
• The Kirigakure Anbu bound Utakata with water whips and struck him with lightning, but he broke free and attacked Mei Terumi.
• Mei Terumi's Melting Apparition Technique corroded Utakata's arm, and he retaliated with acidic gas and chakra tails that pierced her body—only for her to turn into water.
• Mei Terumi reappeared unharmed and attacked with Lava Release: Water Barrage, while Utakata dodged and countered with a barrage of corrosive acid.
• Utakata rushed Mei Terumi and tore her apart, but she again turned into water and emerged behind him, forming Hand Seals.

Tsunade and the Kirigakure Anbu confronted each other after Utakata escaped during their fight with the Six-Tails. Utakata fled injured, but an unknown figure appeared to block his path.

• Mei Terumi attacked Utakata with a Water Dragon Bullet, but his Six-Tails Chakra Cloak protected him from serious harm.
• Ao warned Mei that Tsunade and her group were approaching, and Utakata fired a miniature Tailed Beast Bomb at them before fleeing.
• Tsunade arrived to find the forest devastated and learned that Utakata had escaped; Mei and her Anbu turned to face her and her companions.
• Mei demanded to know why Tsunade had interfered, but Tsunade denied doing so and mocked Kirigakure for letting Utakata escape.
• Several miles away, an injured Utakata found an unknown figure blocking his path and demanded to know who they were.

Rikuto used his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan to send Utakata into darkness, causing the Six-Tails to rampage toward Tsunade, Mei Terumi, and their companions. As Kirigakure prepared to deal with the beast, Mei told Tsunade that Madara Uchiha had controlled the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.

• Rikuto appeared before Utakata and used his Sharingan to incapacitate him.
• The Six-Tails went berserk and charged toward the group, prompting Ao to warn that it was out of control.
• Mei Terumi demanded that Tsunade let Kirigakure handle its Tailed Beast, while Tsunade agreed not to interfere if Mei could keep it from harming nearby towns.
• Mei reminded Tsunade that the Uchiha Clan had been destroyed by Uchiha Itachi, and Tsunade reacted angrily.
• Mei revealed that Madara Uchiha had controlled Yagura for years, startling Tsunade and the others.

Mei Terumi and Tsunade exchanged information about the Masked Man's involvement in the Uchiha massacre and other disasters before the rampaging Six-Tails attacked. Mei led Kirigakure's forces against Saiken, but her attacks failed to harm it, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Mei Terumi told Tsunade that Madara Uchiha had controlled the Fourth Mizukage, and Tsunade confirmed that a Masked Man had likely been behind the Uchiha massacre and the Nine-Tails' Attack.
• The berserk Six-Tails charged at the group and sprayed acidic gas, forcing Mei, Tsunade, Rikuto, and the others to retreat as the forest dissolved.
• Rikuto explained that Mei possessed Boil Release and Lava Release, but that her abilities would be less effective against the Six-Tails.
• Mei ordered Kirigakure's Anbu to support her and attacked Saiken with a water dragon strengthened by lightning, but the strike barely affected it.
• Mei's Lava Release collided with Saiken's acid and canceled out, while Ao examined the Six-Tails with his Byakugan.

Rikuto saved Mei Terumi and Hot Water Town from the Six-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb by redirecting it with Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder. Afterward, he flirted with Mei, who happily entertained the idea of marrying him, while Karin watched jealously.

• Ao warned Mei Terumi that the Six-Tails’ Chakra was being controlled by Genjutsu, and the beast attacked the Kirigakure forces.
• Mei Terumi blocked the Six-Tails’ acidic barrage with Water Release: Water Formation Wall, but the beast formed a Tailed Beast Bomb.
• The Six-Tails fired the bomb toward Mei Terumi and Hot Water Town, and Rikuto appeared in its path.
• Rikuto used Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder to send the Tailed Beast Bomb away, where it exploded on the distant horizon.
• Rikuto introduced himself to Mei Terumi and joked that he might become her future husband; Mei responded with a smile, while Karin grew jealous.

Rikuto rescued Mei from Six-Tails Saiken and revealed that he had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, shocking the Kirigakure shinobi. He left the battle against Saiken to Tsunade while Karin angrily watched him with Mei.

• Rikuto carried Mei away from Saiken’s acid attack and dodged its strike by teleporting to a marked kunai in a tree.
• Rikuto told Mei that his Flying Thunder God Technique came from Tobirama Senju, and Ao and the Kirigakure Anbu realized he had mastered the legendary technique.
• Rikuto asked Tsunade to handle Saiken, and she charged into battle.
• Karin glared at Rikuto and Mei, calling Rikuto a womanizing scoundrel, while Shizune tried to calm her.

Tsunade used Wood Release to bind the Six-Tails and stop it from forming another Tailed Beast Bomb. Mei Terumi was stunned by Tsunade’s power and worried about what it could mean for Kirigakure, while Rikuto teased her about marriage.

• Mei Terumi learned that Rikuto was Tsunade’s disciple and challenged Tsunade’s reputation with a wary glance.
• Ao warned that the Six-Tails was gathering another Tailed Beast Bomb, and Tsunade used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence to restrain it.
• The growing trees bound the Six-Tails, absorbed its Chakra, and dispersed the unfinished Tailed Beast Bomb as it struggled to break free.
• Mei Terumi and the other Kirigakure Ninja watched in disbelief as Tsunade subdued the Six-Tails with Wood Release.
• Mei Terumi felt frustrated by Tsunade’s strength and worried that Konoha might become too powerful, while Rikuto joked that marriage would make Konoha and Kirigakure one family.

Tsunade used Wood Release to suppress the rampaging Six-Tails, leaving its Jinchūriki gravely injured and drained of chakra. Rikuto offered to return the Six-Tails to Mei, but Tsunade demanded that Ao surrender his Byakugan.

• Mei Terumi responded with amusement to Rikuto's boast that he would steal her away if she married someone else, while Karin muttered jealously.
• The Six-Tails broke free of Tsunade's wooden restraints and devastated the surrounding forest as everyone retreated.
• Tsunade summoned a Wood Dragon that bound the Six-Tails, pierced it with thorns, and drained its chakra until it could no longer struggle.
• After the Six-Tails disappeared, the Kirigakure ninja saw its unconscious Jinchūriki lying bloodied and feared that Rikuto's group might take the beast.
• Rikuto offered to return the Six-Tails to Mei, but Tsunade demanded that Ao reclaim the Hyuga Byakugan in his right eye, leaving him sweating in alarm.

Tsunade demanded that Kirigakure return Ao’s Byakugan, while Mei Terumi resisted because it was valuable to her village and Ao was her trusted subordinate. After a Kirigakure Anbu attacked Karin and Shizune killed him with one punch, the Kirigakure group felt overwhelmed, and Ao stepped forward as the chapter ended.

• Tsunade demanded Ao’s Byakugan back, and Mei Terumi and the Kirigakure Anbu refused.
• Shizune and Rikuto warned Mei Terumi that Kirigakure would not take the Six-Tails Jinchuriki unless they surrendered the Byakugan.
• A Kirigakure Anbu attacked Karin to take her hostage, but Shizune intercepted him and killed him with a single punch.
• Ao realized that Kirigakure had little chance against Tsunade, Rikuto, and Shizune, while Tsunade pressed Mei Terumi for an answer.
• Ao stepped forward as the Kirigakure group faced Tsunade’s demand.

Ao agreed to return the Byakugan in exchange for Kirigakure taking the Six-Tails Jinchuriki home unharmed, and Rikuto removed the eye despite its sealing curse. After Tsunade let the Kirigakure group leave, Mei insulted her age and provoked her into a furious confrontation.

• Ao offered to return his Byakugan and demanded that Tsunade let Kirigakure take the Six-Tails Jinchuriki home unharmed.
• Tsunade agreed and offered to transplant an eye, but Mei refused her help and said Kirigakure had its own medical-nin.
• Ao warned Rikuto that a Cursed Seal protected the Byakugan, but Rikuto tore through the seal and gouged the eye out.
• Tsunade let Mei and the Kirigakure Ninja leave with the Six-Tails Jinchuriki and warned them that keeping a Tailed Beast could be dangerous.
• Mei mocked Tsunade for being an old woman who looked eighteen, and Tsunade angrily demanded to know whom she had called old.

Rikuto parted from Mei Terumi after Tsunade and Mei clashed over Ao’s Byakugan, then followed the Kirigakure group and gave Mei a Sharingan as a meeting gift. Mei and her companions left with the eye, while Rikuto returned to Tsunade, Karin, and Shizune.

• Tsunade and Mei Terumi traded insults and stares but avoided a fight, and Mei left with Ao and the Kirigakure Ninja.
• Rikuto preserved Ao’s removed Byakugan in a vial and offered it to Karin and Shizune to examine.
• Rikuto reassured Tsunade that she mattered more to him, prompting Karin to pout over his interest in Mei.
• Mei stopped the Kirigakure group to apologize to Ao, who urged her to report Tsunade’s Wood Release and arrange a replacement eye.
• Rikuto caught up with Mei and gave her a vial containing a Sharingan, explaining that it eased his conflict over supporting her.